Author Archives: Families First

With the onset of the new year, it’s a time of reflection, resolutions, and what we can do to better ourselves and our communities. Reflecting on how we can improve ourselves and the lives of others, it’s natural that January is National Mentoring Month. Beyond classes, webinars, tutorials, etc., mentors have an incredible impact on […]

As we look back on the last two years, everyone has experienced challenges. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the negative mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue their impact through 2029. Families First knows the families we serve were already hurting, and their trauma has been made worse during the pandemic. “I’ve […]

Generosity is defined as “the quality of being kind and generous.” Families First has seen the power of our community’s generosity this holiday season with our annual Adopt-A-Family Program. This year, in partnership with Macy’s and supported by corporations, civic groups, faith-based organizations and individuals, we are spreading holiday joy to 1,350 individuals – more than […]

The words resilience and adoption go hand in hand. The birth parent, adoptive parent, and child, all build resilience during their adoption journey. From supporting birth mothers and adoptive families through the process to the providing a post-adoption support network through the Georgia Center for Resources and Support (GACRS), Families First serves as first point […]

“This year I’m thankful for my kids because they are healthy and also because we as a family have a roof over our heads. This year has been very difficult because of COVID but we have overcome a lot as a family,” shared Aileenayala, a Families First CHISPA client at a recent Thanksgiving event.  The […]

As we head into the holiday season, our personal wellness is often overshadowed by baking sweet treats, decorating the house, attending holiday parties and selecting the perfect gifts. However, there are ways to help make this holiday season a season of wellness.  Here are some examples that have helped millions of people achieve greater wellness: Emotional […]

Each year Families First provides scholarships to assist our students as they transition to college or post-secondary education. These funds allow families for students to cover key costs including tuition, books, travel fees and housing. In celebration of National Scholarship Month, we recognize this year’s honorees Brenda Guillen and Nelis Pereira who both participated in […]

“During the pandemic, we would have really been struggling if it weren’t for Families First. They were getting us food and supplies, and even when there was a toilet paper shortage, they were getting us toilet paper. Everything in general they’ve helped us a lot,” shared Victoria Talavera, CHISPA parent. In Spanish, “CHISPA” means “spark.” […]

It has been a long-standing practice for business people to receive personal coaching to support their advancement and success. This powerful resource also has been made available to those who enter the military, attend post-secondary education, or end up in a large company with a strong professional development program. People outside these parameters have not […]

By: Jeff Hilimire, CEO, Dragon Army, Author, The Turnaround Leadership Series, Co-founder, 48in48 + Ripples of Hope + The A Pledge We know that if children in a community are thriving, the family will thrive, and then ultimately the community can thrive. But this concept can also work in the opposite direction. If a community is stronger and more resilient, […]

At Families First we measure success by helping families achieve access to things that benefit them, helping families establish and maintain healthy relationships and connections, and we are committed to enhancing the ability to view their futures with positive and achievable goals that enrich and enhance lives.  By focusing our efforts in these areas we […]

Building resilient families in our community takes collaboration, creativity and innovation.  The Families First and The Urban League of Greater Atlanta collaboration which began in February 2020 to provide young, incarcerated fathers the opportunity to connect to their children is an example of creative solutions to help our families move from surviving to thriving. Sitting […]

At TechBridge, this idea drives our work. All our products, services, and programs reflect our vision of creating predictable pathways out of poverty. There are many nonprofits out there doing incredible work but not operating in the most efficient and effective way. That’s where we come in. TechBridge provides the technology systems and platforms that […]

By Dr. Valentin, director of Clinical Services at Families First.  How important is the state of wellness? In America, we put strict values in working hard, maintaining and providing for our families.  We also tend to express how we use our time and often it doesn’t sound so positive.  Wellness is a personal experiment of […]

The month of August is National Immunization Awareness Month and Families First is encouraging all Atlanta families to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Families First recently partnered with the  Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) of Georgia to provide free vaccines to families at its Back-to-School BASH.  To help achieve the goal of […]

By Comer Yates, Renée Boynton-Jarrett & Maryanne Wolf  Comer Yates is the executive director of the Atlanta Speech School, which houses the free and universally accessible Cox Campus. Renée Boynton-Jarrett is a social epidemiologist and pediatrician at Boston University School of Medicine and the founding director of the Vital Village Community Engagement Network. Maryanne Wolf […]

When untreated mental health issues led to unemployment for Ebony Williams, she and her children became homeless. Despite the profound effects that this life experience had on all of their lives, with the help of Families First, she and her children were able to get the help they needed to get on the path to […]

By: Edward M. Valentin, Ph.D., LCSW Children across the nation are very excited to see their teachers and friends and parents are certainly ready for them to get back to a “normal” routine and be able to focus on their jobs.  We are still in a pandemic and there is a threat coming from a […]

The Back-to-School Bash on Saturday, July 24 brought together Families First, Starbucks, Kroger and Target to provide families with many of the essential resources needed to head back to the classroom safely and prepared including school supplies, groceries, and COVID-19 vaccinations. The community celebration focused on family health and education resources, and food accessibility for […]

With the 2021 school year around the corner, it is vital that families in the Greater Atlanta area have essential resources available to them so that they can return to school as safely and healthy as possible. Thanks to Families First’s partnership with Starbucks, Target, and Kroger for the Back-to-School Bash on July 24, many […]